I like to think of myself as a nice person. I can be crabby - just ask my husband. But, overall, I believe I'm cordial to everyone at any given time. I wish the philosophy to treat others the way you would like to be treated was adopted by everyone else - especially when it comes to customer service.
I've already written about certain retailers who were too consumed with their story about a rat-bastard boyfriend to help me in the check-out lane. But poor customer service doesn't stop at white-trash supercenters. You see it at the auto shop. You see it at the coffee shop. You see it when you choose a place that provides $10 haircuts. You see it at the dentist office. Even the doctor's office.
I had to go to the doctor yesterday and felt like I entered a police interrogation, my husband an accomplice. We've gone there before and had a poor experience. Apparently it would have killed the nurse assistant to crack a smile, let alone make eye contact. This time our experience was just as bad.
There was miscommunication about why I was there. They checked my chart. Checked it again. Called another doctor. Congregated in the hallway - probably talking about what they were going to have for dinner. The doctor came back in, defensive and told us WE misunderstood the reason for paying our $50 copay. We left dazed, confused and glad that we weren't handcuffed and thrown in a squad car.
One time I went to McDonald's with a friend and the person taking our order acted like she'd rather be getting her nails plucked out one by one than sport the stylish visor and monogrammed McDonald's shirt. When I looked up at the menu overhead, I saw that 'smile' was actually listed as something to order. So I ordered one. Told her it was my friend's birthday - could she have a smile for free. She didn't find it amusing.
Has our culture come down to this? Is customer service something we should have to order? We have so many additional expenses listed when we receive bills. I've seen hospitals charge patients a dollar for a Kleenex. I wouldn't be surprised to see a charge of $50 or more for 'friendly service'.
McDonald's may have had the right idea...put a smile on the menu. Though sometimes they have run out, or they are out of stock, the idea that a smile can be ordered for free is a good one. It's a shame it has to be on a menu, on a list of services that a business can provide if asked.
I'll take an expensive x-ray, a prescription for months of therapy, more tests...and can you throw a side of smile in there for me? Thanks doc!
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